NASA Space Shuttle Processing Status 21 January 2005

Mission: STS-114 – 17th ISS Flight (LF1) – Multi-Purpose Logistics
Module

Vehicle: Discovery (OV-103)

Location: Orbiter Processing Facility Bay 3

Launch Date: Launch Planning Window May 12 – June 3, 2005

Launch Pad: 39B

Crew: Collins, Kelly, Noguchi, Robinson, Thomas, Lawrence and Camarda

Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles

Processing continues in the Orbiter Processing Facility (OPF) for
Discovery’s Return to Flight mission, designated STS-114, to the
International Space Station. Testing of the thousands of systems
onboard Discovery is 80 percent complete. Preparations for leak tests
of the crew module were performed yesterday. Main Propulsion System
leak checks are complete.

Following final checkout, testing and installation of the avionics
box, the new Orbiter Boom Sensor System (OBSS) was transferred from
the Remote Manipulator System lab in the Vehicle Assembly Building
(VAB) to the OPF Thursday. The boom is scheduled to be installed into
the starboard side of Discovery’s payload bay early next week. The
50-foot-long OBSS will attach to the Remote Manipulator System, or
Shuttle robotic arm, and is one of the new safety measures for Return
to Flight, equipping the orbiter with cameras and laser systems to
inspect the Shuttle’s Thermal Protection System while in space.

In integrated operations in the VAB, the team is working final
closeouts of the stacked Solid Rocket Boosters for the STS-114
mission. The External Tank (ET) is located in the checkout cell, and
technicians have completed the aft hard-point closeout foam spray.
The aft hard-point is an area of the tank where the ET is mated to
the transporter. Foam is not applied to that area at the Michoud
Assembly Facility in Louisiana to avoid damage to the foam during
travel to Kennedy Space Center.

Mission: STS-121 – 18th ISS Flight (ULF1) – Multi-Purpose Logistics
Module/Crew Rotation

Vehicle: Atlantis (OV-104)

Location: Orbiter Processing Facility Bay 1

Launch Date: Launch Planning Window July 12 – August 3, 2005
Launch Pad: 39B

Crew: Lindsey, Kelly, Sellers, Fossum, Nowak and Wilson

Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles

Technicians continue processing Atlantis for its mission to the
International Space Station. Orbiter system testing is well under
way. The airlock was installed on Monday, and the hatch functional
test was successfully completed.

The left inboard, left outboard and right inboard body flap actuators
are installed for flight. Fuel cell electrical connections are
nearing completion. Fuel cells use oxygen and hydrogen to provide
electrical power and water during a mission. Atlantis’ Forward
Reaction Control System was moved to the OPF Wednesday for
installation on the vehicle. Freon coolant loop No. 2 servicing is
complete. Wing leading edge sensor installation and wiring
modifications for the External Tank camera continue.

Endeavour (OV-105)

Space Shuttle Endeavour is in its Orbiter Major Modification period,
which began in December 2003.